Over 2 million trapped in Gaza as airstrikes continue
The Hindu
Israeli airstrikes pound Gaza Strip, heightening fears among 2 million Palestinians. U.S. President Biden visits Israel, announces $100M in aid. Egypt to deliver limited humanitarian aid, but Hamas confiscation could end it. Israeli military says it killed top militant, hit hundreds of targets.
Israeli airstrikes pounded locations across the Gaza Strip early Thursday, including parts of the south that Israel had declared as safe zones, heightening fears among more than 2 million Palestinians trapped in the territory that nowhere was safe.
In the nearly two weeks since a devastating Hamas rampage in southern Israel, the Israeli military has has relentlessly attacked Gaza in response. Even after Israel told Palestinians to evacuate the north and head to what it called “safe zones” in the south, strikes continued overnight throughout the densely populated territory.
A residential building in Khan Younis, a city in southern Gaza where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians had fought shelter, was among the places hit. Medical personnel at Nasser Hospital said they received at least 12 dead and 40 wounded.
The bombardments came after Israel agreed on Wednesday to allow Egypt to deliver limited humanitarian aid to Gaza, the first crack in a punishing 11-day siege. Many among Gaza's 2.3 million residents have cut down to one meal a day and resorted to drinking dirty water.
The announcement of a plan to bring water, food and other supplies into Gaza came as fury over a Tuesday night explosion at Gaza City’s al-Ahli Hospital spread across the Middle East. There were conflicting claims of who was behind the blast, which the Hamas-run Health Authority said had killed hundreds of Palestinians.
Hamas officials in Gaza blamed an Israeli airstrike, saying hundreds were killed. Israel denied it was involved and released a flurry of video, audio and other information that it said showed the blast was instead due to a rocket misfire by Islamic Jihad, another militant group operating in Gaza. Islamic Jihad dismissed the Israeli claim.
The Associated Press has not independently verified any of the claims or evidence.
An Indian woman, Himanshi Khurana, was murdered in Canada; police have identified Abdul Ghafoori as the prime suspect.
U.S. lawmakers voice concerns over the ban of Bangladesh's Awami League party ahead of upcoming elections, urging free and fair processes.
Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow and Tula spark fires; Russia claims to have destroyed 172 drones overnight.
The US State Department said Tuesday it would deny visas to a former EU commissioner and four others, accusing them of seeking to "coerce" American social media platforms into censoring viewpoints they oppose.
Roughly 25,000 people have expressed interest in joining the Trump administration’s cadre of engineers known as Tech Force
North Korean POWs in Ukraine express hope for a new life in South Korea, thanking supporters for their encouragement.
USCIS will prioritize higher-skilled, higher-paid individuals in H-1B visa selection starting February 27, 2026, enhancing program integrity.
U.S. judge upholds Trump's $100,000 H-1B visa fee, ruling it within his immigration regulation powers despite business group challenges.
Trump's envoy to Greenland emphasizes U.S. seeks dialogue, not conquest, amid ongoing concerns over territory sovereignty and security.
Australian lawmakers approve strict gun laws and protest bans in response to a deadly antisemitic shooting in Sydney.
France's parliament passes an Emergency Bill to prevent a government shutdown, urging swift action for a 2026 budget.
Newly released Epstein files reveal multiple references to Trump, prompting a DOJ defense against sensational claims in the documents.
Venezuela's parliament criminalizes oil tanker seizures amid U.S. pressure as opposition backs Trump's policies against Maduro.